Sandy’s Place

Owner is very rude to his own staff and to the customers. Owner will curse at customers and demand that they pay for their meals before they eat. Sitting at the bar, there is a clear view of the kitchen and I have seen him cough on the food before. None of the cooks i saw were wearing gloves while cooking food or preparing it. I have also seen the owner eat food while he cooks your food and that is not sanitary. I’ve seen roaches crawling in here and tons of dead ones. They crawl on the bar and everywhere. Disgusting. They need to get shut down. He (the owner) likes to hire staff that is on drugs, on parole, felons, and who have been in and out of jail. He will bail all his staff out of jail and pay off what ever to get them back to work for him. He fires people who are hard working and doesn’t care. The waitresses are rude and impatient and don’t care much about customer service. They will ignore the customers and treat them like crap. They don’t like to talk very much. Some of them look like there on drugs and waisted. Do not support this business.

Our waitress, Felicia, was awesome! She totally runs the place. She sent back a plate from the kitchen and told the cook, «I’m not serving a burnt bun, especially not to new customers!» I love her. I had a gyro platter w/​greek salad. Bae got a chili cheeseburger and fries. Everything was very very good. After tip, the bill came out to just under $ 30 which is not bad at all. The place has a bar, and I noticed mostly older diners. I would definitely come back. Sandy’s is off the chain!

I have been a loyal customer of Sandy’s, mainly because the soups are good and the servers are personable — they remember you, and help you to feel like a local. Oh and they are 3 minutes from where I work. This past week, however, has caused me to re-​think my position and I think I will be driving a little farther for my go-​to place in the new year. What happened was that an employee made a mistake in checking out the person next to me. The owner (Sandy) tore strips off her, including using the word «stupid,» something he regularly does in relation to his employees (and sometimes his customers). It is, I believe, considered «part of his charm.»
This time, the owner practically pushed the employee away, and she went on with her work. However, the customer who was being served protested loudly, telling him that she had two friends who had already stopped going here because of how he treated his help. The owner turned on her, and a yelling match broke out, ending with the customer saying she also would not be returning. «Get the [expletive] out of my place!» yelled the owner several times as she was departing. I confess that I kept my head down, paid my bill, and left. I am not proud of my silence, but in retrospect I have decided I don’t want to support this kind of nastiness, or to welcome it into my life.
I will miss the soup.

Love this place.
Other than service being a little slow (they talk to each other and the regulars) it’s great. I really enjoy there food. They are great when we bring the kids.

Very good and clean place and the owner is real Greek and cooks for years the gyro
Is out of this world

This place really is a dive, but in a cool funky divey sort of way. Luckily, other reviewers mention that it is behind the El Indio or I might never have found it. I will tell you, it probably is not the kind of place to take a first date … at least not if you intend to get a second date, but it is not too bad of a place with a bunch of friends. First the good: the cheese sticks were probably the best cheese sticks I have ever had. They were perfectly fresh, nearly burned my mouth, and were great. I asked that the fries be cooked until they were crispy (because imho crinkle cut fries are gross when limp) and they came out perfect as well. The gyro sandwich was not anything to write home about, but was good. The server was really funny, and the service and food was delivered promptly. Now for the bad. The place had a greasy smell when we walked in, and not only that but it was one of those stalker smells. I mean, it followed me back home, and I had to change clothes and shower to get rid of the smell. Not the best experience. They really need to improve ventilation, give the place a good scrubbing, and do something about the stalker smell. I probably won’t come back, the food was good, but the smell was off putting. Although, I might send my BFF in for carry out … that would solve the smell problem (for me anyway).

This is a great place to relax with friends in the NW edge of Gainesville, close to El Indio. Love this area. I highly recommend the naked chicken wings, gyro sandwich and the spaghetti. My best friend who introduced me to this place says the meat loaf is some of the best she has had. I have yet to try it but eventually I will even though the idea of a meat loaf is not that appealing to me. I hope that doesn’t make me sound shi shi foo foo. Anyway, check them out.

This place has been around forever and is really needing to be remodeled badly. That being said, I can’t find a better Pastitsio anywhere.

Arrived at 840pm. The waitress came out in the parking lot and said they were closing at 9pm and the kitchen was closed. This also happened last week. This is a real shame, this is a great restAurant. But I guess I should take comfort knowing they can afford to turn away parties of 6 and 9 people.

I’ve been to Sandy’s Place lots of times because they have THE best wings in ALL THE LAND! I’m not really one for writing reviews, but today I felt like I should. I got to Sandy’s around 2:30 pm so it wasn’t their busiest time of day… as soon as I walked in, I realized I had forgotten my phone and was expecting a call so I walked back out to turn on the car to make sure my phone was charging… but it didn’t turn on. it just clicked. no lights​.no motor… no anything. I have AAA but feel pretty certain I have used up all of my benefits for the year. I walked back inside, unsure of what to do, it was getting ready to storm and I was stranded on my lunch hour.
Sandy saw me and asked me what was wrong. He is often mistaken by people as being gruff. He is a TEDDY BEAR! He came outside and had me pop the hood… he wiggled something and my car started right up. Talk about amazing customer service. As always, the wings were spot on… just perfect… but Sandy coming to my rescue today just made my whole day better.
I will forever be a patron of this awesome neighborhood place and a fan of Sandy.

Three and a half stars. The food is tasty for such a run down looking place. I love the mushroom Swiss burger. Wings are good if you order in. Not so great for takeout. I don’t go as often as I’d like because my wife thinks it’s too unattractive inside.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend eating in the restaurant unless you are wanting to eat at a bar like place. But the food is decent enough. There really aren’t any other Greek options here in Gainesville to my knowledge, so I would go back on occasion but would do take out. Service isn’t great. That is part of what brought it down to 3 stars.
The gyro was a 3.5 as it was a little oily although my husband said his was not. Good price though because the sandwich is big. Spinach pie was good, like a 4, but a little pricy for the portion in my opinion. Lollipop appetizer: not worth it.

The gyros are great! My boyfriend gets the hamburgers and he loves them. I even got my best friend addicted to this place. She got the chicken philly and loved it. The food portions are good and very filling. :)

Bangin tuna sandwich! Located In a strip mall on 34^th street by YMCA. The tuna sandwich has celery in it too which I like. This place is pretty popular for the area, especially for lunch. The grilled cheese and fries too… grilled cheese is hard to mess up. The hamburger is okay. The Italian sub I’ve heard is really good.
The meatballs are really good. They are real meatballs– made there. Not the frozen ones you get at most places.

Not living on this side of town Sandy’s was always an after thought for lunch or dinner. We were planning on doing a roadtrip to Tarpon Springs. But with price of gas and just having lots of other things to do I suggested trying Sandy’s. I’ve read reviews online about Sandy’s having greek food. Here’s our experience.
Went to lunch on Saturday arriving around 2pm for a late lunch. The place was fairly empty. Walked in the door, sign says seat yourself. We walked up to the booth section, noticing almost every booth seat was old and had huge rips in the seats repaired with blue duct tape. We picked the booth with the best seats we could spot.
Our waitress was attentive at first. But a pet peeve I have is when the server does not come by and check how things are going and fill our waters. My water sat empty long enough that it forced me to get up and grab the pitcher of water on the counter. Our waitress was just sitting down at the end looking back every so often.
We perused the menu, selecting to order and appetizer, and two entrees. I asked our server if the grape leaves were homemade. She said no, that’s about the only item that’s not made in house. So we ordered the greek combo appetizer plate. Grape leaves, feta cheese, olives and tomatoes. It was just ok, nothing you couldn’t make better at home with stuff from publix.
My gyro came out. I had asked the waitress for extra Tzatziki sauce which was not on it. It was just ok. I’d give it a 5 on a 10 scale. The price was $ 8 for a gyro and fries.
Sandy’s has been in that strip mall forever. I’m sure they have their regulars. But it really is a run down hole. The only reason I’m not giving them 1 star is their prices are good for the quantity and quality of food they are serving. Again it’s not great greek, just average. Probably would have given them 3 stars if the service and atmosphere (new seats) were improved.
Hadn’t been here in my 18 years living in Gainesville, and I we won’t be rushing back.

yep, it looks sketchy as hell from the outside. It’s in a run down little strip mall between a salon and a dry cleaner’s, next to Family Dollar. Parking kinda sucks. BUT look past all that and go inside. You will not be disappointed.
The food is really fresh, simple and the prices are modest. There actually is a Sandy, which I find endearing. He is Greek, and his Gyros and other assortment of Greek offerings are the real deal. But, if you’re not a fan of Greek food there are so many other options! The French Dip sandwich is my go-​to, but they make a really decent burger. Their wings were a wonderful discovery-​crispy skin, tender meat and a spicy, flavorful sauce. I order mine «naked», with the sauce on the side, so I can dip. Heavenly!
It’s a great spot for a weeknight dinner (I’ve never been on weekends, but I see that they have live music) Their specials change all the time, and if I remember correctly, they make their soups of the day in-​house. The waitresses are the best, too. They’re friendly, welcoming and give you an old-​school «whaddya want, honey?» as a greeting. Love it! I don’t want them to change a thing, not even the duct tape on the faux leather booths!

It will look like a hole in the wall, but come for the very good Greek food. Décor will not impress, but try the food and your mind will be blown.
The menu has Greek items and traditional American food at good prices. Daily specials are worth reviewing.
I got the Greek Special (Greek salad, gyro meat, and pita wedges) and my wife got the pork souvlaki wrap with fries. Both were really good, and we will be back.
DISCLAIMER: This area is a desert for Greek food so perhaps we are overrating a bit due to lack of like competition, but I’m pretty sure that’s not all that has our socks off.

Actually the place is better then I expected. The food was all I called the fresh-​cut and cooked properly. I think the place is been around for over 20 years. The place could use a big update in atmosphere and there is on tape stuck on a booths that are torn. The repair and maintenance of the place has been poor.
Except for that and the lack of excellent service the food is fairly good and much better than the Pita pit. Okay but the Pita pit or PD keen doesn’t have service anyway so I guess that makes it better.
If you’re looking for a great Greek salad or gyeo try Sandy’s place on 34^th it’s definitely worth the money and has a lot of food for what you get.
Nothing spectacular big see him expectations given the fact that when I walked and it was role totally discombobulated. By the time I left there were at least 10 tables that had people sitting at them.
Bathrooms were not great but I did not go over there for the bathrooms!

This place has basic, good Greek food and it’s a lot closer than Tarpon Springs if you live in Gville. Don’t take the kids too late though, it’s not really appropriate for them. But Sunday after church world out fine.
I like the pastishio and hubby likes the gyros.

The gyro plate is just fantastic. The flavor of the gyro is strong. Sandy is actually Greek, so it is authentic food he serves here. The grape leaves are fantastic. I just have to get them every time, even if I take them to go.
They no longer have karaōke on Friday nights, but I’ve caught a few good local bands there.